I didn't hold high expectation for the film when I first watched the moive trailor couple of months ago. I thought it was, like most films, just a movie with stunning sceneries and twisted plots. But as it turns out, it's not the case.
The development of the film, at first, is plain. A passionless marriage between a wooden-minded workaholic and a spoiled sociable "princess" leads to extra-marital passion. In pain and in revenge, the husband voluntarily works in a cholera-stricken town in China. There, the couple overcomes the problems of marriage as well as life-threatened challenges. As the film develops, I'm amazed with the journey made by Water(Edward Norton). He managed to change from a dull workaholic to someone who's truly ennobled not only by his unfailing efforts to stem the plague, but by forgiving his wife for her mistakes. When dying his last word is "Forgive me" and I'm touched to see they've comed to a place of love. It's a pity there's no time left for them to share this happiness but to bury it deep in their momeries.
The film was magnificantly shot, providing a vivid contrast to the harsh envirnment. It's a remarkable combination of story, acting, directing and music. It doesn't fail to portray the superstitious prejudices of the Chinese massese as well as the sheer egotism of the chinese military rulers. There're little plot development about anti-colonialistic resentment of Chinese towards the English. It also points out the nature behind the so-called noble deeds of the Christian orphanage---to turn the orphans into little Christians.
My favorite dialogue of the film comes from Mother Superior:
"I fell in love when I was seventeen with God. A foolish girl with romantic notions. But my love was passionate. Over the years, my feelings have changed. He's disappointed me, ignored me. We've settled into a relationship of peaceful indifference. The old husband and wife who sit side by side on the sofa but rarely speak. He knows I will never leave him, this is my duty. But when love and duty are one, then grace is within you."
